Is the waiting period (iddah) obligatory for a woman whose husband was absent for five months, and then news of his death reached her? And what about a woman whose sick husband, who had not had intercourse with her for three years prior to his death, passed away—is a waiting period obligatory for her? And what is the wisdom behind the prescribed waiting period?

The waiting period (iddah (definition)) begins from the death of the husband, whether the wife is aware of it or not. If it ends before she becomes aware, then she is not required to observe any iddah. If she becomes aware before it ends, she must complete the remainder of it. The iddah is also obligatory for a woman whose husband died even if he had not consummated the marriage with her, because the iddah is a right of Allah Almighty and out of respect for the marriage contract.